"This session opens for discussion the relationship between polyamory–the maintaining of multiple caring, intimate, and love relations, physical or conceptual–and the flexible, multi-project work of artistic and cultural production which involves more than one other. If one accepts that love is often a motivator for many intensive and intimate exchanges with another collaborator, be it a particular site, community, persons human or non-human, over time.. And that one may be juggling several ongoing commitments in parallel.. Maybe Polyamory is something we should discuss more..

Introductory Notes:

thanks for considering this late entry proposal.. It only needs a scheduled slot and a venue, and very low in needs-equipment etc :)

⚡ One picture that resonates with your idea

See attached.

⚡ How your proposal relates to the text-resonance?

I interpret the text-resonance as the blurry and creative line between what is normal and what is not normal conditions for working, where the personal, biological, psychological and sexual mix up into the same spaces with intellectual and creative endeavor. A significant area for discussion that is both important for individual and collective work is that of care, who cares for whom, for each other, and how this mixes up with expectations of (cultural) work.

I would like to re-create/re-enact/re-peat the discussion event that took place several years ago as part of Ckster 2017: Gender Hacking festival in Bern, Switzerland. Titled 'Polyamory as cat in the bag', it has so far only happened once, although it was popular on the day (over 30 attendees, and materials in archive.org accessed over 1400 times since it was archived a few days after the event).

Description:

"This session opens for discussion the relationship between polyamory–the maintaining of multiple caring, intimate, and love relations, physical or conceptual–and the flexible, multi-project work of artistic and cultural production which involves more than one other. If one accepts that love is often a motivator for many intensive and intimate exchanges with another collaborator, be it a particular site, community, persons human or non-human, over time.. And that one may be juggling several ongoing commitments in parallel.. Maybe Polyamory is something we should discuss more.."

This event was a round-circle occasion, where after an introduction (see introductory bullet-point notes in PDF), the process was initiated or happened when one of the persons in the room volunteered to take a
statement from the handmade fabric bag and read it aloud. In this way there was an opportunity for the one reading  to find a way to relate to the statement, to accept, dismiss, share anecdote or even offer personal experience to the circle of listeners present. Maybe this would spark further dialogue, with the aim of exploring different understandings and meanings that can be made by an individual or more than one.

https://archive.org/details/agryfp-2017-polyamory-as-cat-in-the-bag-ckster

⚡ What equipment / materials / tools would you need? *

None, I would bring a fabric bag, and the pre-handmade cards in advance, however the texts could be written and translated in advance to Russian, so that while the discussion is held in english, it is possible to also read and be understood if someone wishes to use Russian. My own comprehension is less important than the collective group's listening.

A venue for discussion. A space where 20+ people can sit in a circle seeing each other is important.

⚡ Place and time of your event (if relevant)

Not relevant

⚡ Approximate duration

1-2 hours

⚡ Some words about you

Very generally:

Artist-organiser', cultural producer, educator and independent researcher. Specialises in developing and leading inter- and trans-disciplinary projects exploring connections between art, digital culture and science, cultural activism, ecological and sustainability movements, cultural heritage and collaborative networks

2 page CV-resume attached.

⚡ Dates of your stay in Minsk

29.6.-5.7."